Self-locking clothesline pulley



March 26, 1940. F J, SUTER i 2,194,679

SELFV-LOCKING CLOTHESLNE PULLEY Filed Aug. 9, 1939 Patented Mar. 26,1940 UNITED y STATES rATENT OFFICE SELF-LOCKING CLOTHESLINE PULLEY FrankJ. Suter, Baltimore, Md.

Application August 9, 1939, `Serial No. 289,316 2 Claims. `(o1.18s-65.1)

This invention refers to clamping devices for flexible cordage and moreparticularly to clothesline clamps, and the like.

The invention includes in its objects, the pro- 5' vision of a devicethat will tighten effectively on the cordage or rope run through it;that may be operated Without handles or external mechanism; that may beused for holding cords of the clothesline type; and other similar uses,like that for supporting tennis nets, mooring boats, etc.; to

have the device as simple as possible in construction and operation asto require little attention or operative skill. It also.l has among itsobjects to provide a system of clamping the cordage that ll will notinjure same or place it under stress at any particular point. Inaddition, provision is made in the design that the device Willautomatically hold itself secure by the Weight placed on the rope orcordage in its practical use.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

The usual clothesline hanger with a pulley and a clamp that holds thecordage is in two separate elements. This causes the cordage to bindWithin the clamp independently of the pulley and to receive specificstresses at one particular location; to the general injury of the rope.In applicants device the rope or line passes over the pulley thatsustains its weight and load, and the clamp or clutch uses the pulleyfor a portion of its structure to bind the cordage Within it. This notonly eliminates the use of some parts in the device, but even makes itlighter since some of the material of the pulley is removed to make itform a ratchet gear.

The claw used on the ratchet gear is included close by, and readilyswitches into position for clamping and unclamping. The device itselfconsists of a skeleton frame in T-form, making it as rlight as possibleWithout reducing its eiectiveness.

The arrangement for holding the clamp in position When used as a clampis very simple, and does not add to the Weight or size of the device.

In the drawing which shows by Way of exa ple an embodiment of thisinvention:

Figure l is a side elevation of a clothesline clamp embodying thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a front View of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device,

Figure 4 is a detail of the clutch arm used in the device, inperspective,

Figure 5 is a modified form of ring end for the clutch arm.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawing.

In the construction of the device I represents a bifurcated shank of aT-frame used for supporting the pulley 2, over which the line or rope 3runs. The branches 4 of the frame are provided with thimbles 5, bevelledinternally, and

used for guiding the rope around the pulley. The 5 pulley has a V-likeshaped groove 6 arranged on its periphery, Wide enough to allow the ropeto ride easily Within it. This groove is roughened as indicated toprevent the slipping of the rope and act as a brake therefor. 10

The walls l, by the sides of the groove are formed With ratchet teeth 8,consisting of a straight face portion 9, a rounded peripheral portionIt, and a riding portion II. The pulley is supported on a central pin orshaft I2 that is 15 set in the shank portion I. The shank is bifurcatedto engage the pulley onboth its side Walls.

A clutch arm I3, bent on a reversed curve has its tooth end portion I4formed with a middle rounded portion or clutch I5 adapted to press on 20the rope passing over the pulley groove, Without digging into same andinjuring the fibres of the rope. The portions I6 on either side of theclutch are ytapered and flattened at the end to engage With the ratchetteeth on either side of 25 the pulley, and thus control its rotation inone direction, `The clutch arm is pivoted on the Shanks at I7, and hasan extension eyelet or arm portion I8 projecting from the reversedportion,

and with its hole I9 adapted for attachment to 30 a hook or the like ona building or post. When secured to the hook, the Weight on the ropepulls onthe clamp, pivots the portion or arm I3, which is preferablyunderneath, and pulls it so that its tooth presses into the ratchetteeth and the 35 clutch against the rope `with its rounded cam portion.In the latter case the pressure increases as the pull on the arm I3increases, and thereby forces it in more tightly into the groove t. Totighten up on the rope, the rope is pulled on the 40 loose end, theratchet lifted to allow the pulley to rotate With it, and when tightenedsulciently, the arm I8 is pulled up to place the ratchet tooth andclutch in place, so the rope will not slip. The eyelet portion is thenplaced on the hook, 45 and the pull, due to the Weight, keeps the clutchand ratchet securely in place. The simplicity of the arrangement enablesit to be used quickly and effectively without involving any appreciabletrouble or eiort.

The bottom of the groove 25 is knurled or roughened to form a rmer holdon the rope 2. In Figure 5, the end portion I8 of the clutch arm I3 isprovided with a circular hole 29 therein, in-

'stead of the elliptical type indicated in other 55 views. n using thedevice, the rope that supports the Weight or clothes is termed the snubor tension rope, while the other loose rope is termed the idler, and ispulled on, to bring the tension rope up tighter.

While but one form of the invention is shown in the dravving,it is notdesired to limit this application in any Way otherwise than limited bythe prior art, as it is appreciated that other constructions can be madethatA would involve the same principles and come Within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A device of the class described comprising combination, a T-likeframe havingV its shank portion biiurcated, a pulley having a peripheralgroove formed thereon adapted to encompass rope or the like disposingtherein and with the walls about the groove adapted to form ratchetteeth, a pair of thimbles secured on the arms of said frame and` alignedwith said groove for the rope to pass therethrough after half loopingthe pulley, means for securing the pulley to the shank portion andpermittingV same to revolve thereon, and a ratchet member looselyattached to the shank and formed to Contact the tooth portions of thepulley and the rope used in the pulley, said member having a lever armwith a ring thereon adapted to exert leverage on the portion in contactwith the rope and teeth when the ring is supported and the looped ropeis under tension on the pulley.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination a T-likeframe; a pair of thimbles on the arms of the said frame, a pulley forrope or the like With a peripheral depression therein with the walls ofthe lower portion of same adapted to give a wedge-like grip thereon andthe upper portion formed into uniform projections extending above theproximate position of the rope bent around the pulley in the saiddepression and passing tangentially to and through the said thimbles, amember for rotatively supporting the pulley on the frame, another memberon the frame formed to fit against the projections and lock same with aclutch portion arranged for pressing the rope into the depression, saidlast mentioned member having means for supporting it and acting withleverage thereon in proportion to the tension on the rope looped aroundthe pulley to snub the same.

FRANK J. SUTER.

